Historic Pritzlaff Wedding

Arielle and Adam, both from Milwaukee, met at their friends’ wedding; Arielle was friends with the bride and Adam was friends with the groom. How’s that for a romantic “how we met” story?! They got engaged at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, not far from where they live. “It was lovely,” Arielle says. “I was so surprised — I thought he was going to propose the next weekend back in Milwaukee! When we got back to our place, my sister and best friends were waiting with cupcakes and champagne. Adam had arranged it all without my knowing.”

Adam and Arielle planned a Milwaukee wedding at the Historic Pritzlaff Building. “The service was incredibly personal, since both Adam and I have known our rabbi our whole lives,” says Arielle. “He named me, bar/bat mitzvahed both of us, confirmed us — he was even my next-door neighbor!”

For their wedding’s style, the couple tried to incorporate the “Tree House” sculpture installation from their botanical garden engagement. Arielle says: “There was foliage and green plants in the decorations and bouquets, which were unfussy and fresh. Working with Emily at Belle Fiori was a dream! The flowers were so gorgeous and original. I had a vision of hanging flowers that she totally got. Then my dad, a sculptor, built our chuppah with stylized branches. The bouquet chuppah cover, which my stepmother quilted, was like looking up into the branches of a tree.”

The wedding reception was “east coast style,” meaning there was dancing between each course of food. “This way, people weren’t hungry and bored waiting around for food, but were instead up and partying the whole time. We got a lot of compliments on that.” The scrumptious food came from the Zilli Hospitality Group who worked with Arielle and Adam to create a custom menu served family-style to match their personality and love of food. An elegant “naked” cake came from Miss Molly’s Pastries, and the late night snack: Kopps! The couple’s signature cocktail was a vodka gimlet, Arielle’s grandfather’s favorite drink and a longstanding family tradition.

All night long, the music came from the Dan Hayes Orchestra. “The band killed it. They had a great feel for the audience and when to kick it up or turn it down a notch. They played the perfect mix of new tunes and Motown and soul to make sure everyone got up to dance.”

Though Arielle didn’t tackle any DIY projects, she and Adam did come up with a highly-personalized wedding program with the help of Owen Printing. “Our program was really an activity book. We love to solve crossword puzzles together, so Adam created one for the wedding. We didn’t know quite how to incorporate it, but our printer Carly came up with the activity book idea. She ran with it and also created a matching game and fill-in-the-blank about us.”

Arielle’s advice for future brides stems from how grateful she is to her wedding planner, Jess Arendas of Lourdes and Lorraine. “If you choose to use a wedding planner, it’s critical that you ‘get’ each other,” Arielle says. “Adam, Jess, and I were on the same page right away. The wedding was so beautiful and a success because she helped us think through every detail, worked with all the vendors behind the scenes, and pulled it all together. We were so lucky!”

Bridal Registry~Anthropologie, Bed Bath and Beyond, Williams Sonoma
Did you use a Wedding Consultant~Jessica Arendas, Lourdes & Lorraine Event Design
Invitations~Magnificent Milestones
Additional Paper Suite~Owen’s Printing
Rehearsal Dinner~Kasana
Ceremony and Reception~Pritzlaff
Lighting~Majic Productions
Rentals~A La Crate
Draping and Hanging~Barking Pony
Caterer~Zilli’s Hospitality Group
Cake~Miss Molly’s Pastries
Flowers~Belle Fiori
Music/Entertainment~Dan Hayes Orchestra
Photographer~Untamed Heart
Photo Booth~The Traveling Photo Booth
Dress~Reem Acra from Gabriella New York
Bridesmaids~Joanna August
Formal Wear~Groomsmen – J Crew
Bride’s Ring~Gesner Estate Jewelry
Accommodations~Iron Horse Hotel
Honeymoon~American Club in Kohler, Wisconsin, and Blacksmith Inn on the Shore in Bailey’s Harbor, Door County, Wisconsin